Sunday, June 27, 2010

CHOCOLATE PAVLOVAS - DARING BAKERS

The summer solstice has just passed and July is close. I can't believe that half of the year has already flyed by... And once again, the end of the month is the time when we are asked to share our Daring Bakers' creations with the rest of the world. It is just insane to see how time goes by and how many challenges I have already completed (33) since I started in October 2007.The June 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Dawn of "Doable and Delicious" who challenged the Daring Bakers’ to make "Chocolate Pavlovas" and Chocolate Mascarpone Mousse. The challenge recipe is based on a recipe from the book "Chocolate Epiphany" by Francois Payard.

Although I am generally prone to be a little stressed and psyched out by the things we have to bake, this challenge didn't make me panicky. On the contrary, I felt comfortable with it and totally confident when it came to executing the recipe given. The reason for my unusual confidence is that I have made meringue, chocolate mousse, crème anglaise and mascarpone more than once and I felt totally at ease with the process of making all the components of the "Chocolate Pavlovas". No big deal!

As a matter of fact, my "Chocolate Pavlovas" were made in a very relaxed atmosphere. The meringue shells were baked in whiz a few days before I prepared the rest of the elements composing this dessert. Then, on Friday, while listening to my favorite music I very cooly got the challenge finished...

I didn't change much to the original recipe. Instead of flavoring the chocolate mousse with lemon zest and nutmeg, I decided to add some ground tonka (bean) instead and as I had no Sambucca for the crème anglaise, I replaced it with good ol' Whisky.Those "Chocolate Pavlovas" looked very cute and tasted just exquisite. Contrarily to what I believed at first they were really not too sweet and absolutely not cloying. In fact, this dessert is really refined. The meringue shells have a exhaliratingly deep taste of cocoa, the chocolate mousse is not sugary at all, light, smooth, delicate lusciously chocolaty, and the crème anglaise gives just the right flavor contrast with it's voluptuous aromas of vanilla and whisky. Just splendid.

I wish to thanks Dawn for having chosen that divine. This recipe is definitely a keeper!

Preparation time:The recipe can be made in one day although there are several steps involved.While the pavlovas are baking, the crème anglaise should be made which will take about 15 minutes.While it is cooling, the chocolate mascarpone mousse can be made which will take about 15 minutes.There will be a bit of a wait time for the mascarpone cream because ofthe cooling time for the Crème Anglaise.If you make the Crème Anglaise the day before, the dessert should take about 2 hours including cooking time for the pavlovas.Equipment required:• Baking sheet(s) with parchment or silpat• Several bowls• Piping bag with pastry tip• Hand or stand mixer

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CHOCOLATE MERINGUE

Ingredients:3 Large egg whites1/2 Cup plus 1 Tbs (110g) White granulated sugar1/4 Cup (30g) Confectioner’s (icing) sugar1/3 Cup (30g) Cocoa powderMethod:1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 200º F (95º C) degrees.2. Line two baking sheets with silpat or parchment and set aside.3. Put the egg whites in a bowl and whip until soft peaks form.4. Increase speed to high and gradually add granulated sugar about 1 tbsp at atime until stiff peaks form. (The whites should be firm but moist.)5. Sift the confectioner’s sugar and cocoa powder over the egg whites and fold the dry ingredients into the white. (This looks like it will not happen. Fold gently and it will eventually come together.)6. Fill a pastry bag with the meringue. Pipe the meringue into whatever shapes you desire. Alternatively, you could just free form your shapes and level them a bit with the back of a spoon. (Class made rounds, hearts, diamonds and an attempt at a clover was made!)7. Bake for 2-3 hours until the meringues become dry and crisp.8. Cool and store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Directions:1. Put 1/2 cup (120 mls) of the heavy cream and the ground tonka bean in a saucepan over medium high heat.2. Once warm, add the chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth.3. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and let sit at room temperature until cool.4. Place the mascarpone and the remaining cup of cream in a bowl.5. Whip on low for a minute until the mascarpone is loose, then whip on medium speed until it holds soft peaks. (DO NOT OVERBEAT AS THE MASCARPONE WILL BREAK.)6. Mix about 1/4 of the mascarpone mixture into the chocolate to lighten.7. Fold in the remaining mascarpone until well incorporated.8. Fill a pastry bag with the mousse. ( Again, you could just free form mousse on top of the pavlova.)

Method:1. Prepare the crème anglaise.2. Slowly whisk in the mascarpone and the Whisky and let the mixture cool.3. Put the cream in a bowl and beat with electric mixer until very soft peaks are formed.4. Fold the cream into the mascarpone mixture.

Method:1. In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until the mixture turns pale yellow.2. Combine the milk, cream and vanilla in a saucepan over medium high heat, bringing the mixture to a boil. Take off the heat.3. Pour about 1/2 cup of the hot liquid into the yolk mixture, whisking constantly to keep from making scrambled eggs.4. Pour the yolk mixture into the pan with the remaining cream mixture and put the heat back on medium.5. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture thickens enough to lightly coat the back of a wooden spoon. (DO NOT OVERCOOK.)6. Remove the mixture from the heat and strain it through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl.7. Cover and refrigerate until the mixture is thoroughly chilled, about 2 hours or overnight.

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ASSEMBLYPipe the mousse onto the pavlovas and drizzle with the mascarpone cream over the top.Dust with confectioner’s sugar and fresh fruit if desired.

What amazing photographs you have Rosa and everything looks so perfect and as you say an exquisite results it is nice on the odd occasion to have a challenge where every is familiar. Cheers from Audax in Sydney Australia.

I recently made white chocolate mascarpone mousse and that was outstanding so I am sure a classic chocolate version paired with pavlova would be a sure winner! Your photos look so beautiful, as usual. :)

I love your range of images here and also how unctous your mousse looks. Make me wanna dive right in. I agree with you, I was pleased at the balance of sweetness with this recipe. And I also agree with how easy it was given that I also have made most of elements before.

I, too, felt very comfortable with this challenge. I also played music while making the mascarpone and the mousse.

Anyway, you did an amazing job on this challenge. I love the one you made with the squiggly line. That's so cute! I've never heard of those Tonka beans. I will have to look into those. Great job again!

Yes, totally agree with you regarding the liking for the deep taste of cocoa in the meringue. And if you haven't mentioned it, I like to add I was so overwhelmed with the lemon (or in my case, lime) zest flavor in the mousse!

Yes, half a year has flown by already. Time sure zooms by this year. I love chocolate mouse. As a matter of fact, one of my fave cakes is double chocolate mouse at our local French baker. I think they're French. The Chocolate Pavlovas sound delicious! And not too sweet? That's even better.

bravo! You ahd it done with perfection, just love your pavlova! mine turn out really funny the other day, the blue colour turn out grey atfer visiting the oven! it was a laugh! yellow turned orangy brown! my little niece went totally freak out and we all had a laugh! :)

I like the flavor you chose too...what a wonderful dessert you made...Great pictures, I like your style...I'd like to participate to daring bakers too, it seems so funny, but I'm too busy right now, maybe one day, when I will learn to organize myself ^_^

Never made pavlovas but they are on my long bakery list. They really good superb and that mascarpone cream just divine, love it. Thanks for the post, nice picts by the way my sister used to live in Geneva, beautiful...